Wishaw starlet Lennon Miller has signed his first professional contract with Motherwell at the age of 15 – and it proved to be an emotional occasion as he dedicated the achievement to his late mum Donna.
The midfielder – the son of former Scotland and Aberdeen striker Lee Miller – put pen to paper at Fir Park last week alongside his family and the Steelmen’s first team boss Graham Alexander.
No-one would have been prouder than his mum Donna, who sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of just 29 following a four-year battle with brain cancer.
Donna fell pregnant with Lennon’s younger brother Bobby during her cancer battle and stopped treatment for him to be born healthily.
Just weeks before Bobby celebrated his first birthday though she tragically passed away. Since then her family launched the Donna Miller Memorial Fund to support babies and children treated at Glasgow’s Sick Kids Hospital at Yorkhill.
And she was at the forefront of Lennon’s thoughts as he signed his pro-deal, with the Coltness High School pupil leaving flowers on his mum’s memorial bench the day he signed for Motherwell which read: “That one’s for you. Wish you could be here but hope I’m doing you proud. Love Lennon.”
Proud dad Lee told Lanarkshire Live Sport : “It has been an emotional time.
“His mum always wanted him to be a footballer. Lennon loves the game and she just wanted him to follow his dreams, so signing his first professional contract is a big step towards that.
“He dedicated the achievement to his mum and the day he signed we got the flowers to mark that.
“It’s a massive deal and he’s done brilliantly throughout his life. He’s thrived and excelled in everything he has done, so we are just delighted for him.
“Lennon is quite calm and chilled out about it. He’s just looking forward to the challenge ahead now because he’s confident in his own ability, but he’s not flashy about it.
“I know Graham Alexander from my time in the Scotland squad years ago and he knows what he is capable of.
“He likes him as a player and it’s just down to Lennon to work hard now to get into his thoughts and see where it takes him.”
Lennon, who was also joined by his step mum Maria and his brothers Bobby and Jude at the signing, now trains with the first team squad and will working harder than ever to try and impress his gaffer.
The Steelmen have a fine track record for bringing through top young talent and Lee hopes his son, who won’t be eligible to feature for the first team until he turns 16 in August, can be the next one in line.
He added: “Lennon’s in full-time now and training at Dalziel Park.
“He’s there at the manager’s disposal at the end of the day and it’s down to him to impress and show what he can do.
“If he keeps going the way he’s going it shouldn’t be a problem for him. He’s a level-headed kid that knows what he wants in life.
“It’s exciting times ahead and we are looking forward to see his progression.
“There’s been lots of players come through at Motherwell like [David] Turnbull, [Chris] Cadden and [Allan] Campbell.
“It’s a good platform for him and he can see a pathway into the first team. He’s not quite 16 yet but he can get in there amongst it just now, get used to being a full-time footballer and take it from there.
“He’s got to grab the opportunity with both hands.”
Scotland youth international Lennon is one of 10 academy graduates at Fir Park to sign professional deals.
Also making the step up is Wishaw kid Max Ross and fellow defenders Robbie Garcia, Arran Bone and Brannan McDermott, goalkeeper Josh Bogan, midfielder
Dylan Wells, striker Mark Ferrie and wingers Luca Ross and Shay Nevans.
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
